"A life well lived, a fighter through it all. His courage carried him, and his memory will carry us."

Mr. Willie Hayward Jr. was born on July 29, 1971, to Hattie Mae Owens and the late Willie Owens of Wagener, South Carolina. He departed this life to reside in his Heavenly Home on December 7, 2025.

Willie, affectionately known as Shabba, attended Wagener Salley High School in Wagener, SC. He joined Friendship Baptist Church in his youth, where his faith and love for his church community grew. Willie had a passion for cooking, music, and dancing. He was also known for his thoughtful nature, often making early morning calls to check on his family.

Professionally, Willie was a master craftsman, specializing in flooring for various contractors. He was also a devoted fan of the Dallas Cowboys and proudly represented his team in every way he could.

Willie was preceded in death by his grandparents Gladys and James Wise, Addison and Emily Owens, his aunt Frances Brown, uncles Isaac Brown, Esaw Wise, Frank Wise, Donell English, Ezell Lawton, James Brown, Jasper Kitchings cousin Ezell Brown, and his God-sister Ny'Zarria Kitchings.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his mother, Hattie Mae Owens; his fiancée, Marilyn Howard; his bonus children, Pandoria McMillan and Roget Howard; his mother-in-love, Ethel Mae McMillan; his sisters, Shirley Jones (Vincent Jordan) of Wagener, SC, Barbara Williams and Joe Williams of Aiken, SC, Cheryl and Curtis Schofield of Wagener, SC, Willie Mae Hayward (Samuel Seawright) of Lexington, SC, and Essie Cullum (Dave Cullum) of Aiken, SC; his Goddaughters, Ta'Lia Barrett and Cassidy Corbitt.  Including his devoted aunties: Deloise Wise, Catherine Wise, Lessie Wise, Eliza Chandler (Randolph Chandler), Annie Milhouse (Wendell Milhouse), and Lorvell Wise (Amos Doug Wise), all of Salley, South Carolina; Gladys Kitchings of Aiken, South Carolina; and Linda Wise Lawton of Blackville, South Carolina. His uncles are Jimmy Wise of Salley, South Carolina, and James Wise of Florence, South Carolina. His nieces, Tameka Jones (Alphonso Jones) of Pittsburgh, PA, Tiffany McSpadden (RC McSpadden) of Aiken, SC, Dominique Schofield of Wagener, SC, Olivia Williams of Aiken, SC, Whitney James (Quinn Bowman) of Salley, SC, Keondra James of Salley, SC, and Hope Corley (Mark Corley) of Aiken, SC; his nephews, Donell Jones of Wagener, SC, Curtis Schofield Jr ( Stacee Whittle) of Wagener, SC, Patrick Jones of Seattle, WA, and J.R. Jones of Newberry, SC; 9 great-nieces, 12 great-nephews, 2 great-great nephews, 1 great-great niece; and a host of cousins and friends who will forever remember his kindness and spirit.

Willie's life was a testament to love, perseverance, and dedication to family. His memory will continue to inspire all who knew him.

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